Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:02): I rise to speak on the Real Property (Priority Notices and Other Measures) Amendment Bill 2015 and indicate that the opposition will not be opposing the passage of this bill in this house. Having received some briefings, but some matters not being resolved, we want to consider whether some amendments need to be considered. However, on the face of it, we understand that there is some pressing need for the passage of this bill and, whilst our concerns are of moment, we accept that they are probably matters that can be resolved between the houses.

I rise to support the member for Stuart's motion in recognising the White Ribbon Day and his invitation for men to sign up to this worthy cause and be examples to others of the importance of the demonstration of rejection of any form of domestic violence, principally towards women and children. I have said before in this house that I only ever acted for one man who was a victim of domestic violence—he was brutally beaten, actually, by his partner—but overwhelmingly the statistics confirm to us that women and children in a domestic situation are the most vulnerable. They are frequently the most victimised and our statistics in relation to death and serious injury speak for themselves.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:51): I rise to speak on the Stamp Duties (Off-the-plan Apartments) Amendment Bill 2014 and indicate that I will be the lead speaker for the opposition. As has been suggested by other speakers, the opposition will support this bill. It is not without criticism, and I have criticised this program before, not because it offers relief to those who are proposing to invest in off-the-plan apartments within the metropolitan area (within a more restricted area as applied up until 1 June but now we will be expanding it under this bill), but because it is not universal. It is not across South Australia. It is not even across the whole metropolitan area.

I rise to speak on the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2014 and indicate that the opposition will be supporting this bill. Consideration has been given to whether, in fact, other aspects of the current Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2012 need amendment, and I think they do. I think there are a number of issues that have been raised (most recently by the commissioner in his first annual report in 2013-14) for which there are various advances as to how they are being looked at and resolved.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:02): I rise to speak on the Criminal Law Consolidation (Sexual Offences—Cognitive Impairment) Amendment Bill 2014. This is a bill introduced by the Attorney on 29 October this year, and I think it is fair to say that it has had quite a long gestation period in its development. I indicate that the opposition will be supporting the bill.

Almost 1000 residents have petitioned the Weatherill Labor Government to reverse the decision to close the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court due to the proposals ‘overwhelmingly negative impact on the community’.

It is with pleasure that I stand to introduce this bill today. It is the culmination of an extraordinary amount of work that has been undertaken, and I pay tribute to the Hon. Stephen Wade in another place. During 2013, in particular, we on this side of politics felt it was such an important issue, such a significant area of public policy, that we went to the 2014 election with a commitment to protecting the public interest in the manner outlined in this bill.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:10): I have acknowledged that in the Magistrates Court Act section 7(2) makes provision for the process that is to prevail in the event that the Chief Magistrate is absent from his or her duties, namely the provision for the Deputy Chief Magistrate to assume those duties of office. I had left this previous debate on the basis that there is specific provision in the Magistrates Court Act for dealing with those absences, as distinct from the silence that prevailed in respect of the District Court Act and the Supreme Court Act as to what would happen in the event that the Chief Judge or Chief Justice were not available for their duties. Those acts were silent on that provision and the practice, as I understand it, prior to amendments that we dealt with, I think, last year, was that the senior puisne judge in those jurisdictions would be called upon to provide those services during the absence of the chief justice or chief judge respectively.